# parents and parenting (news sources) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover parents and parenting. Page: Feed: --- ## [This is how we do it: ‘Since having cancer, I’m more open – before I was straight, now I’m queer’](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/23/this-is-how-we-do-it-since-having-cancer-im-more-open-before-i-was-straight-now-im-queer) _2026-08-23 · As told to Naomi Larsson Piñeda · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Following the all-clear, Kevin and Jade found a new openness in discussing sex and intimacy – and also a shared desire for exploring polyamory • How do you do it? Share the story of your sex life, anonymously Since the all clear, my relationship with my sexuality has shifted a lot Continue reading... ## [Quench your thirst! 20 perfect spritzes and shandies to try now – from kumquat to portergaff](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/23/quench-your-thirst-20-perfect-spritzes-and-shandies-to-try-now-from-kumquat-to-portergaff) _2026-08-23 · Rachel Dixon · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Whether you love a traditional spritz or tend towards a wilder libation, this August there are bubbly and sophisticated drinks to suit every taste This summer, UK web searches for “Hugo spritz”, an elderflower-flavoured aperitif, overtook searches for “Aperol spritz” for the first time. As the spritz craze shows no sign of slowing down, pub chains are taking wild liberties, calling anything fizzy… ## [My best ever British holiday: ‘I’ve travelled further, at greater expense, and had nothing like as much fun’](https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/aug/23/my-best-ever-british-holiday) _2026-08-23 · Max Benato, Kirsten Henton, Jill Mead, Marcel Theroux, Andy Pietrasik · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Five travel writers share their favourite holidays at home, from gravel biking in Scotland and a steam train ride in Yorkshire to rowing all the way from Oxford to London One of my best UK holidays was the week I spent in June 2013 rowing from Oxford to London with two friends, James and Tom. Continue reading... ## [A childhood sexual abuse allegation has rocked our family – what can we do about it? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/23/achildhood-sexual-abuse-allegation-has-rocked-our-family) _2026-08-23 · Annalisa Barbieri · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Make the victim feel safe and able to talk at their own pace, and consider any danger the perpetrator currently presents to younger members of the family A young adult woman in our family has recently shared that her older male cousin once touched her inappropriately when she was aged six and he was aged 12. This happened 18 years ago. Then a second incident allegedly occurred eight years later.… ## [Is a French Sunday the secret to a healthier, happier life? | Polly Hudson](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/23/is-a-french-sunday-the-secret-to-a-healthier-happier-life) _2026-08-23 · Polly Hudson · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The idea of being deliberately unproductive is certainly tempting. The only concern is that you might enjoy it too much ... They know what they’re doing when it comes to kissing, toast and horns, so get ready for a French Sunday. A new theory suggests that embracing this intriguing-sounding strategy might just be the secret to life, and, more importantly, to dreading Monday less. Apparently in… ## ['Cheese paper' will double the life of your cheddar. We lab-tested nine storage solutions](https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2026/aug/22/best-cheese-storage) _2026-08-22 · Matthew Schaffner, Jonathan Deutsch and Rachel Sherman · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ If you want to maintain the integrity of your camembert, specialty products work – but you may already have a solution at home The Anyday glass food containers transformed how I store leftovers Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Fine cheeses can easily cost more per pound than steak, so unwrapping a long-anticipated treat to discover a science… ## [Diamonds for sale: lab-grown gem auctions are all over TikTok right now, but some aren’t happy about it](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/22/tiktok-auctions-lab-grown-diamonds) _2026-08-22 · Rosalind Adams · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Streamed auctions offer a cheap way to buy the precious gems, but experts warn that quality is not guaranteed The first time Andrea Greenhill came across a livestream auction for lab-grown diamonds while scrolling on TikTok, she was stunned. While the diamond engagement ring her husband proposed with years ago had cost thousands of dollars, these loose lab-grown diamonds were selling in seconds at… ## [Thomasina Miers’ recipes for spiced lamb-stuffed aubergine with aleppo chilli butter, and berry ripple ice-cream](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/18/spiced-lamb-stuffed-aubergine-aleppo-chilli-butter-recipe-thomasina-miers) _2026-08-22 · Thomasina Miers · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ A meaty, Middle Eastern style stuffed vegetable feast finished off with an ice-cold berry dessert There’s something delightfully retro about stuffed vegetables. They take me back to Delia Smith’s iconic Summer Collection cookbook , which blew my tiny mind when it came out in my early teens. Too sheltered to know about the e rage that had inspired Delia, I delved into my mother’s vegetable crisper… ## [‘It was dark and deserted. I was drawn by the light’: Christine Rodgers’ best phone picture](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/22/it-was-dark-and-deserted-i-was-drawn-by-the-light-christine-rodgers-best-phone-picture) _2026-08-22 · Grace Holliday · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ A man at a bank counter in a border town in northern India, tension in the air: how could any photographer resist? Over the last decade, Lancashire-born, London-based Christine Rodgers has trekked in Bhutan, Nepal and the Indian states and regions of Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Sikkim. “I’ve developed something of a passion for the Himalayas,” she says. “I love being in the mountains; not climbing,… ## [Nigel Havers: ‘My biggest disappointment? Not playing James Bond’](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/22/nigel-havers-interview-biggest-disappointment-not-playing-james-bond) _2026-08-22 · Rosanna Greenstreet · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The actor on mucking out pigs as a teenager, an apology to his first wife and what makes him cry all the time Born in London, Nigel Havers, 74, was Bafta-nominated for his 1981 role in Chariots of Fire. His other films include A Passage to India and Empire of the Sun. On television he has appeared in Don’t Wait Up, The Charmer, Coronation Street, The Gentlemen and, most recently, Golden Boys. He… ## [AI QA That Opens Fix PRs (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/MHL3oVXNPJ8u) _2026-08-22 · **Sponsored**_ Runs browser QA, files issues with repro evidence, and opens fix PRs. ## [Hook, hold, harvest and hide: Meta’s alleged strategy laid out in first week of landmark trial](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/22/meta-trial-children-privacy) _2026-08-22 · Dara Kerr · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ In trial that opened on Tuesday, California and 28 other states accused the company of designing addictive sites and violating laws protecting children’s privacy Meta’s business can be boiled down to four words that begin with the letter H: hook, hold, harvest, hide, according to a lawyer who is prosecuting the world’s largest social media company. The owner of Facebook and Instagram “hooks” in… ## [Why are clouds different shapes and why do flowers bloom? The kids’ quiz](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/22/why-are-clouds-different-shapes-and-why-do-flowers-bloom-the-kids-quiz) _2026-08-22 · Molly Oldfield · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Five multiple-choice questions – set by children – to test your knowledge, and a chance to submit your own junior brainteasers for future quizzes ​Submit a question Molly Oldfield hosts Everything Under the Sun , a podcast answering children’s questions. Do check out her books, Everything Under the Sun and Everything Under the Sun: Quiz Book , as well as her new title, Everything Under the Sun:… ## [What is the pan-European emergency telephone number? The Saturday quiz](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/22/what-is-the-pan-european-emergency-telephone-number-the-saturday-quiz) _2026-08-22 · Thomas Eaton · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ From Adventure Galley and Queen Anne’s Revenge to a bus station that’s a classic of brutalist architecture, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz 1 Emily Firmin was the only human in which children’s TV series? 2 What is the most spoken language written in Devanagari script? 3 Which brothers were, respectively, King of Scots and High King of Ireland? 4 What is the pan-European emergency… ## [‘Digging the grave of my profession’: the Hollywood creatives training AI to do their jobs](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/22/the-hollywood-creatives-training-ai-to-do-their-jobs) _2026-08-22 · Robert Booth UK technology editor · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Amid a jobs slump, award-winning writers, directors and producers taking on sometimes lucrative temp work teaching AI skills such as screenwriting and production Hollywood creatives are taking gig work to train AI models to replicate their skills in a bid to offset tightening earnings in a trend one compared to being “handed a shovel and asked to dig the grave of my profession”. Experienced and… ## [‘It exists only for pleasure’: does ice-cream have a future in the age of wellness fads and weight-loss drugs?](https://www.theguardian.com/food/ng-interactive/2026/aug/22/ice-cream-future-pleasure-wellness-fads-weight-loss-drugs) _2026-08-22 · Words: Kitty Drake. Photographs: Christian Sinibaldi · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ As fitness-conscious consumers turn away from processed foods, the industry is scrambling for new ideas, including nutrient-rich lollies and protein-packed tubs. Will they take the fun out of this summer treat? Last month, I stood in the biggest ice-cream factory in Britain and watched a 5-metre Viennetta mint-flavoured ice-cream cake get made. The factory – which is owned by the Magnum Ice Cream… ## [Blind date: ‘There was a mature, polite peck on departure at a busy Manchester Piccadilly station’](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/22/blind-date-pete-susan) _2026-08-22 · Guardian Staff · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Susan, 74, a retired careers adviser, meets Pete, 72, a retired Methodist minister What were you hoping for? A relaxed, friendly lunch with good and fun conversation. Continue reading... ## [Tim Dowling: my working holiday just isn’t working](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/22/tim-dowling-my-working-holiday-just-isnt-working) _2026-08-22 · Tim Dowling · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The weather is unrelentingly glorious, the views are amazing, but I cling to the freelancer’s habit of never quite admitting I’m on holiday In the summer of 1995, I went on a family holiday to Portugal. On the first day I got a call from a UK magazine, asking if I would be interested in interviewing Meg Ryan, in three days’ time. I looked out to the pool, where my wife and my mother-in-law were… ## [Why I’m still annoyed about sharing a name with Jethro Tull’s flute-botherer | Letters](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/aug/21/why-im-still-annoyed-about-sharing-a-name-with-jethro-tulls-flute-botherer) _2026-08-21 · Guardian Staff · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Readers respond to letters from the Guardian writers Stephen Moss and Stephen Moss about being confused with each other The two Stephen Mosses who both write for the Guardian ( Letters, 14 August ) and seem to have an amicable enough relationship have no idea what it was like being one of two Ian Andersons signed to Island Records in early 1969. Let’s just say it didn’t end well. I found having an… ## [A party, 101 princesses and an eccentric millionaire: Jon Ronson on a mysterious castle – and what it taught him about masculinity in crisis](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/21/jon-ronson-chris-mark-mysterious-connecticut-castle-masculinity-crisis) _2026-08-21 · Jon Ronson · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ When my son texted me from a Connecticut fortress in the middle of the night with an alarming message, it set me on a quest to understand the bizarre lifestyle of its owner I awoke one morning in the summer of 2023 to discover that, while I’d slept, my son Joel had been texting my wife and me a series of unnerving messages about a perilous situation he had found himself in, in Connecticut. From… ## [Ditch the giant handbag, don’t overdo the botox and 16 other ways to extend your ‘hotspan’](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/21/dont-overdo-botox-stop-referring-to-yourself-as-old-extend-your-hotspan) _2026-08-21 · Joe Stone · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ If ‘lifespan’ is the time you’re alive and ‘healthspan’ the years you’re disease-free, then ‘hotspan’ is the period you’re attractive and vibrant. Want to increase yours? Experts share their tips Forget 12-step skincare routines, red light therapy and injectables – the single most important thing you can do for your skin is wear UV protection. “Not just sun protection, but UV protection, every… ## [International money transfers (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/ivdndrOliqMD) _2026-08-21 · **Sponsored**_ Send money to other countries and manage multi‑currency balances online. ## [‘Such adept cover stars’: why dogs are taking over fashion in the ‘AI face’ era](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/aug/21/adept-cover-stars-dogs-fashion-ai-face-era-vogue-dogue) _2026-08-21 · Ellie Violet Bramley · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Cute, egoless canines offer a break from a world that feels dominated by ‘nepo babies’ and ‘Maga lady aesthetic’ What do Nicole Kidman, a pair of “nepo babies” and a beagle called Sansa Martínez Berlingeri have in common? They all appear on the covers of the all-important September issues of Vogue and Dogue. But the winner of the unofficial battle of the covers? The one with the keenest sense of… ## [I asked 13 college grads for dorm essentials that stood the test of time](https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2026/aug/21/best-dorm-room-essentials-college) _2026-08-21 · Megan Reynolds · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ I asked 13 people about the things they have carried from college into adulthood –and found their modern day equivalents 21 things tweens want for back-to-school season, according to tweens Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things One of the highlights of the summer before college was trotting off to my local Linens N Things to outfit my new home, a… ## [Cocktail of the week: Cafe Cùil’s Buckfast bloody Maìri – recipe | The good mixer](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/21/cocktail-of-the-week-cafe-cuils-buckfast-bloody-mairi-recipe) _2026-08-21 · Clare Coghill · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The favourite spicy brunch cocktail gets a Scottish twist, complete with Buckfast and a slice of pickle for punch This is our take on the ultimate brunch cocktail, though of course we had to give it a Gaelic stamp of some kind, so have added a shot of Buckfast and renamed it Maìri. If you’re not familiar, Buckfast is a sweet tonic wine, apparently known for its “healing” properties, made in Devon… ## [Are baby products the secret to better skin? 15 toiletries worth trying](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/21/best-baby-products-toiletries-for-adults) _2026-08-21 · Lisa Niven-Phillips · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ With gentler formulas and lower prices, children’s toiletries can work just as well for adults. From nappy rash cream to nourishing bath milk, these are the products that have earned a place in my routine There may be plenty of worrying headlines about children using adult beauty products from younger and younger ages, but what about the reverse? I’ve been a beauty editor for more than a decade,… ## [‘If you’re just interested in answers, you are missing out’: philosopher Lani Watson on the power of asking questions](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/21/philosopher-lani-watson-power-of-asking-questions) _2026-08-21 · Zoe Williams · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The author and academic explains how an open, questioning mindset can bring people with opposing views closer together – and even change history Asking a question can change your mood, and having a questioning mindset can change your life – or, as the philosopher Lani Watson, an honorary fellow at the University of Edinburgh, is more likely to put it, “create change in your life”. When you live in… ## [What if hustle culture had existed in the grunge era … the Stephen Collins cartoon](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/picture/2026/aug/21/what-if-hustle-culture-had-existed-in-the-grunge-era-the-stephen-collins-cartoon) _2026-08-21 · Stephen Collins · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Continue reading... ## [People in the US: how much do you spend on food per month?](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/21/americans-food-monthly-spending) _2026-08-21 · Guardian community team · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ We’d like to hear from people in America about how much they’re spending on groceries and going out to eat Food is expensive and getting more so. A July Harris poll found that more than half of Americans struggle to afford groceries. In the UK, food prices are on track to rise by 50% since the cost of living crisis began in 2021. Continue reading... ## [Jimi Famurewa’s leek, bacon and focaccia breakfast bake – recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/recipes-from-feed/2026/aug/21/jimi-famurewas-leek-bacon-and-focaccia-breakfast-bake) _2026-08-21 · Jimi Famurewa · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ New Guardian Food show FEED with Jimi Famurewa travels the UK in search of food trends. This dish combines the best of Welsh nostalgia with a modern twist The main inspiration for this dish is the Swansea breakfast at Bara , a much-hyped and nationally famous Welsh-inspired cafe in Peckham, south London. The way that an unusual mix of cockles, bacon, leeks, eggs and laverbread has been embraced by… ## [Why dodgy doors are the latest casualty of the UK heatwaves](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/21/why-dodgy-doors-are-the-latest-casualty-of-the-uk-heatwaves) _2026-08-21 · Esther Addley · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Sticking or unlockable doors are yet another problem caused by the hot summer, but winter can also bring difficulties Thursday was another busy day for Alan Hickman, a Bournemouth-based locksmith who works in the area around the New Forest (“though I’m currently dodging the bit between Ringwood and Eastleigh because that’s closed because of the forest fires ”). Speaking on his way to see a man who… ## [We’ll never be royals: the California town where Prince Harry and Meghan lived says goodbye](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/21/california-montecito-prince-harry-meghan) _2026-08-21 · Uwa Ede-Osifo in Montecito, California · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ As the couple plans their return to the UK, Montecito’s whirlwind stint on the global stage may be coming to an end The bucolic coastal California town of Montecito was thrust into the limelight six years ago as the backdrop for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second act following an acrimonious split from Buckingham Palace. But as the couple plans their return to the United Kingdom, Montecito’s… ## [8.1% APY Plus Free Stock (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/RCblNs8KQJiK) _2026-08-21 · **Sponsored**_ Claim 8.1% APY and up to $1,030 in SK hynix and Nvidia stock. ## [Tips for living well! Death comes for all of us – so what’s the best way to live in the meantime? | First Dog on the Moon](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/aug/21/tips-for-living-well-death-comes-for-all-of-us-so-whats-the-best-way-to-live-in-the-meantime) _2026-08-21 · First Dog on the Moon · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Prioritise people and relationships. If you don’t you might die and nobody will know until months later. Gross! Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading... ## [‘If I’m spending that kind of money, the shoe has to do everything’ – the backlash to the three figure trainer](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/aug/20/if-im-spending-that-kind-of-money-the-shoe-has-to-do-everything-the-backlash-to-the-three-figure-trainer) _2026-08-21 · Adam Cheung · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ From Nike’s infamous 110s to £250 and back again, sneakerheads are rediscovering why cheaper shoes can be worth just as much hype as much more expensive ones • Don’t get Fashion Statement delivered to your inbox? Sign up here When Nike’s Air Max 95 trainers first landed in Britain back in the mid-1990s, they looked unlike anything else. Created by footwear designer Sergio Lozano, the shoe had wavy… ## [The lace race: what to wear with slip skirts](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2026/aug/21/what-to-wear-with-slip-skirts) _2026-08-21 · Melanie Wilkinson · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Midis with a lingerie-inspired lace trim can do it all, whether you want to dress up for a wedding or down for the pub Continue reading... ## [I’ll admit it: I’ve cycled through red lights. But Britain’s traffic laws are to blame, not me | Simon Jenkins](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/21/cycling-britain-traffic-laws-london-chaotic-roads) _2026-08-21 · Simon Jenkins · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The essence of cycling is to keep moving, but London’s chaotic roads often make this difficult. My solution: fewer, not more rules I plead guilty. I have loved and used the streets of London all my life, as a cyclist, driver and pedestrian. Touch wood, I have done so without accident, blemish or insurance claim. Yet now I find myself perpetually on the wrong side of the law. Regulation has become… ## [Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for rosemary and cherry blondie ice-cream sandwiches | The sweet spot](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/21/benjamina-ebuehi-rosemary-cherry-blondie-ice-cream-sandwiches-recipe) _2026-08-21 · Benjamina Ebuehi · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Blondies will happily take an ice-cream filling without falling apart, and when those biscuits are infused with herbs, they also help to cut through some of the sweetness Ice-cream sandwiches have really grown on me. I used to find them a bit tricky to eat; far too many of them had outer shells so hard they would crack a tooth, while the rest would turn to mush after a few minutes out of the… ## [Sales of trainers dive as cost of living pressures hit JD Sports performance](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/20/trainers-sales-dive-cost-of-living-inflation-jd-sports) _2026-08-20 · Kalyeena Makortoff · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Inflation deterring shoppers from spending, especially in the US, says sportswear fashion chain Sports fashion retailer JD has slashed its profit forecasts as cost-of-living pressures, fuelled by the US war on Iran, weighed on sales of trainers. JD Sports, which sells a range of sports brands including Nike and Adidas, said widespread inflation had hit shoppers’ wallets, resulting in falling sales… ## [You be the judge: should my partner stop hogging my side of the bed?](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/20/you-be-the-judge-partner-hogging-my-side-of-the-bed) _2026-08-20 · Interviews by Georgina Lawton · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Pádraig has a favourite side, whereas Dave likes to sleep farthest from the door. Help us put this argument to bed • Find out how to get a disagreement settled or become a juror I sleep better on the left side of the bed. I shouldn’t have to swap just because we’ve moved to a new flat Continue reading... ## [‘The only way is up’: cycling Norway’s mountainous ‘Milky Way’](https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/aug/20/cycle-adventure-norway-mountainous-milky-way) _2026-08-20 · Ailsa Sheldon · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ The Mjølkevegen was once used to bring milk from high pastures to the towns below. Now cyclists are discovering the road’s breathtaking panoramas of peaks and lakes, dotted with cosy inns ‘Norway is a hilly country,” shrugs Glenn Roar Berge. He’s not wrong, though he is fond of an understatement. I’m in Valdres in southern Norway to explore the cycle routes that skirt the edges of Jotunheimen… ## [Monstera magic: Barbican hands out cuttings as ‘green lung of the city’ closes](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/aug/20/barbican-hands-out-plant-cuttings-green-lung-city-closes) _2026-08-20 · Helena Horton · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Five hundred people turn up to adopt plants from conservatory that will reopen in 2030 after renovation project Above the waxy monstera leaves and bright pink hibiscus flowers in the Barbican conservatory hangs a giant net to catch the panes of glass that are at risk of falling from the ceiling on the unwitting plant lovers below. This precarious situation has caused the estate to shutter its… ## [Thursday news quiz: A Clacton zero, a departed hero and a whopper Virgin Mary](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/20/guardian-thursday-quiz-general-knowledge-topical-news-trivia-261) _2026-08-20 · Martin Belam · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Test yourself on topical news trivia, pop culture and general knowledge every Thursday. How will you fare? Tim Martin may have spent the better part of a decade trying to convince people that leaving the EU was the only way to secure cheap pub grub, but credit where credit is due: JD Wetherspoon is banning people from blasting out TikToks, videos and music on speakerphone in its pubs. The pub… ## [Rachel Roddy’s recipe for spaghetti with semi-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs and breadcrumbs | A kitchen in Rome](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/20/spaghetti-semi-dried-tomatoes-garlic-herbs-breadcrumbs-recipe-rachel-roddy) _2026-08-20 · Rachel Roddy · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Sun-drying tomatoes until they’re leathery on the outside and soft within is something of an art, but it’s more than worth it for this moreish pasta dish One set of guidelines I received in Sicily for sun-drying tomatoes was two to seven days, depending on temperature, humidity, wind and the size of the fruit. I might as well have been given a surfboard and told “go”, because that advice felt far… ## [It used to be our imperfect bodies that made us insecure. With AI, it’s our minds as well](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/20/bodies-ai-minds-history-technology-humans) _2026-08-20 · Joseph de Weck · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ For most of modern history, technology sought to imitate humans. Humans increasingly seek to imitate technology Two faces that appeared on my Instagram feed in recent months gave me pause. One belonged to John Travolta at Cannes . The other to Carla Bruni on a date night with her husband, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Both looked recognisably themselves, yet, they both also looked oddly… ## [Judi Dench has inspired a new decorating trend – and I oppose it with every fibre of my being](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/19/judi-dench-new-decorating-trend-reverse-decluttering) _2026-08-19 · Polly Hudson · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Reverse decluttering is here, prompting a shudder from me and my fellow neat freaks. Why would you want to be surrounded by mementos when you could be perfectly tidy? Older doesn’t always mean wiser. Jo Whiley has spoken about a home hack she picked up from – clang! – Dame Judi Dench, and I’m afraid I’m opposed to it with every fibre of my being. Whiley is in a new phase – her four children are… ## [Swimmers warned of toxic algae at newly designated Thames bathing site](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/19/swimmers-warned-toxic-algae-thames-bathing-site-ham) _2026-08-19 · Sandra Laville Environment correspondent · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ People told they and their pets should keep out of river at Ham amid anger over Thames Water’s treated sewage plan Swimmers are being warned not to enter the water at the first official bathing site on the River Thames, in south-west London, because of toxic blue-green algae in the water. The blue-green algal blooms are rare in moving water but are likely to be caused by the extreme heat, low… ## [Matthew Higham obituary](https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2026/aug/19/matthew-higham-obituary) _2026-08-19 · Nicky Stainton · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ My former partner and friend Matthew Higham, who has died aged 79, lived a cheerfully chequered life: running away from London to Scotland as a teenager to marry his pregnant first wife, Kay, when their parents forbade it; training as a blacksmith and at the E15 theatre school in London, alongside Mike Leigh; spending a brief stint in Berlin in an undisclosed role for MI6; selling knickers at… ## [How to turn excess green vegetables into a vibrant Spanish soup – recipe | Waste not](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/aug/19/how-to-turn-excess-green-vegetables-into-a-vibrant-spanish-soup-recipe-zero-waste-cooking) _2026-08-19 · Tom Hunt · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ A gazpacho is not only a great way to use up odds and ends in the crisper drawer, it will also surprise you with its flavour and versatility Since reading How Not to Die , by Michael Greger, I’m always looking for ways to include greens in every meal. He regularly pops into my mind when I’m cooking, whispering in my ear: “Add some spinach to that risotto,” say, or “Moringa powder will make your… ## [Will AI give you the job? Automated hiring tools spark discrimination and secrecy lawsuits](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/19/ai-hiring-tools-discrimination) _2026-08-19 · Arielle Pardes · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ A rise in lawsuits over AI use in employment decisions is raising questions about how companies hire and fire For the last four years, Erin Kistler has applied for thousands of jobs at companies like Paypal , Microsoft and Netflix , only to find her résumé disappear into a black hole. A product manager with nearly 20 years of experience, Kistler believes she was qualified for every role, yet she… ## [Over/Under review – beautiful coming of age story of female best friends set across five summers](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/19/over-under-review-beautiful-coming-of-age-story-set-across-five-summers) _2026-08-19 · Leslie Felperin · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ There’s an astonishing naturalism about the two leads, navigating the ups and downs of adolescence, bodily changes and learning to use tampons Practically any woman who had a best female friend in early adolescence will be able to relate to this fragile, thoughtful drama about two American children, Violet (Emajean Bullock) and Stella (Anastasia Veronica Lee), living through the ages of nine to… ## [The men I see in therapy did everything right. So why do they feel so empty?](https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/aug/19/men-therapy-achievement-grief) _2026-08-19 · Matthew Willner · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Many of my clients expected to find fulfillment from their career, marriage and home. Instead, they feel grief “I have the career I wanted, but at this point I just don’t care.” “I don’t know why I’m so angry.” Continue reading... ## [Sali Hughes on beauty: will social media bans for teens mean the return of grownup skincare?](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/aug/19/sali-hughes-on-beauty-teens-social-media-ban-return-of-grownup-skincare) _2026-08-19 · Sali Hughes · Lifestyle | The Guardian_ Soon it will be harder for the beauty industry to aggressively market at children, hopefully spelling the end of gimmicky, ineffective kiddie makeup This summer’s announcement that under-16s will soon be banned from some social media platforms and, more recently, that 16- and 17-year-olds will face a digital curfew , strikes me as a good and sensible decision. It also has unignorable benefits for…